Do you have diarrhea all the time?

Just worth a shot, 2 pepto bismal tablets at night as well as a probiotic with meals and staying about from gluten for a few weeks and see how you do.

Depends on what you consider diarrhea. If it is fairly frequent, loose stools, then, yes I do. But, I am fully continent and do not suffer with urgency. But, I do take Imodium (1a day), Norco, and Pepto Bismol. I also take drugs for my inflammatory arthritis (IBD related ).

 

Jan

Thanks all! I take Pepto too, Virdent, but it tends to slow things down too much sometimes. After my blood test, I'm trying a gluten free diet. And after this next dose of Levaquin, I'm starting probiotics. Which brand do you like best?

 I agree Jan, I like feeling empty with the diarrhea and not suffering in pain but I feel I'm not getting all the nutrients from the food going through me so fast. Literally, I eat a salad and an hour later it's gone through my system! The acid from my stomach burns my bottom. I use creams but they aren't the easiest (large tubes) to travel with. The gas is another problem. Take Tums & it helps a little. I usually don't have a problem with urgency. In fact I can hold it most of the day when I'm out of the house if I watch what I eat. I have arthritis in my hands and tendon problems, use Voltaren Gel. I have kidney disease from taking Taoradol in the hospital for a month. 

Maybe Metamucil would be good for my diet? Used it quite a long time ago & had more urgency, but maybe now it will work better to thicken things up?

Thanks everyone!

 

I've had my j pouch since 1989...just started to have trouble 6 years ago.  But before that life with a j pouch was absolutely great.  It was a relief to feel good again having had u.c. for 10 years.  My stools were loose most of time regardless of what I ate or drank.  I tried to stay healthy eating just because...every now and then did slip.  Now I need to watch everything I eat and drink and waiting to see if there is crohn's diagnosis.  Drink plenty of good old water though...hydration is so important for j pouchers...we need to stay hydrated to keep healthy blood flow to the j pouch and watch our weight.  Don't loose too much and don't gain too much try to keep status quo.  Probiotics are important but I'm still researching whether taking them while on antibiotics is the right thing to do.  So many different theories on this one.  But be sure the probiotic you choose is refrigerated no matter what the box says, if it's not a live culture it won't do any good.  Best wishes with you j pouch stay healthy and stay strong.

I feel like Jan.  With continence, I prefer my bms liquidy!  Easier to empty my pouch.  I never take anything to thicken things up.  However, this past week I've had quite a bit of leakage and it is unusual for me.  No other changes.  I should make an appointment to have things checked out but I keep hoping things just resolve themselves.  Hmmmmmm!  I don't think that is going to happen so Monday, I'll buzz my surgeon and ask him to take a look-see.  Grrrrrrrrrrr!

I prefer liquid to soft stools. I'm totally continent. I only go 4-6x a day and rarely overnight (sleep through the night).  I never took thickeners or things to slow the bowel. 

 

I've had my pouch for 24 years.

Pouch since '86.  Loose stools for most of the time ~8x/day.  Don't take anything unless pouchitis hits.  I work out fairly hard but with a little attention, I rarely get dehydrated or feel that I'm not getting enough nutrients.

 

Echoing others, I think having loose stools makes me feel more in 'control' ... knowing that I've emptied the pouch and can go a bunch of hours without a concern.  Can almost always hold if I need to, leak occasionally at night and literally eat & drink everything.

Hi, I'm in the same boat as you. I remember back in the 80's my doctor told me when I get older it was going to get tougher. I didn't realize how much til I hit the age of 45 and everything seems to have gone down hill. No meds, other then narcotics work for me. After 30yrs of taking lomitil or immodium it just doesn't work any longer. Diarrhea is all the time. I try to mix immodium OTC with pepto for a little effect, not much but it's something.
One day I'm hoping they come out with something else

Good day,

 

I use to have the runs constantly, urgency and frequency.  I have a prescription for MMJ.  I find when I consume it orally via a tincture/butter my output is much more formed and the urgency/frequency drops drastically.  I recommend giving it a try!

What is MMJ?

Ah, sorry, medical marijuana.

 

 

I mostly have loose stools, but it's kinda by choice. If I use Imodium or other things like that, it makes me feel like I'm constipated, even though I'm not. My trips to the bathroom per day are pretty much normal. I don't let it worry me as long as I feel good.

Hi BarbieG,

 

I totally agree with everything you say. I always have diarrhea, worse in the last 2 years. Nothing works good, OTC barley works, narcotics work best but cant function. I had to stop working because of it. I found following a gluten free diet works best for me. I have always told my doctor and nutritionist, I feel much better when I dont eat. 34years and counting with this disease, I've had it the majority of my life. My diagnosis and J-pouch was all done in the same week when I was 18.